Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris is a Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in Paris, begun in the twelfth century and made famous worldwide by Victor Hugo’s novel.

Gothic architecture: A medieval architectural style marked by pointed arches, rib vaults, and extensive use of height and light. Notre-Dame’s pointed arches, rib vaults, and soaring nave exemplify the style.
Maurice de Sully: The bishop of Paris from 1160 to 1196 who initiated the construction of Notre-Dame’s present cathedral. He launched the project and oversaw its early building campaign.
Victor Hugo: A French writer and poet whose works include the novel Notre-Dame de Paris. His novel made the cathedral a central character and a symbol of threatened heritage.
Crown of Thorns: A Christian relic traditionally identified as the crown placed on Jesus during his crucifixion. Its presence made Notre-Dame a major destination for Christian veneration.
Flying buttress: An exterior masonry support that transfers the outward thrust of a roof or vault to a pier. These supports help stabilize the cathedral’s high stone vaults.
Île de la Cité: An island in the Seine at the historic center of Paris. Notre-Dame stands on the island that formed a core of medieval Paris.
Eugène Viollet-le-Duc: A French architect and theorist known for restoring medieval buildings, including Notre-Dame de Paris. He led a nineteenth-century restoration that reshaped the cathedral’s appearance.
Notre-Dame fire: The April 2019 fire that severely damaged Notre-Dame de Paris, including its roof and spire. The fire prompted an international campaign to restore the cathedral.
Rose window: A large circular window, usually filled with tracery and stained glass. Notre-Dame’s three great rose windows illuminate the cathedral with colored light.
Early Gothic architecture: The first phase of Gothic architecture, developed in France during the twelfth century. Notre-Dame’s initial construction belongs to this formative phase.

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